Car coupler



n 1941- R. JQWITTMER 2,246,406

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 9 RumzuWi'ilmer ATTORNEY June 17, 1941. R. J. WITTMER 2,246,406

GAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 10, ma 3 Sheets-Sheep 2 I I o 6 W12. i n W oINVENTOR RussellJ 14 22 17761 /6" BY ATTORNEY June 17, 1941. R. J.WITTMER 2,246,406

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORV Russell JWi'ltmer ATTORN EY Patented June 17, 1941 CAR COUPLER Russell J.Wittmer, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable andSteel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication August 10, 1938, Serial No. 224,028

8 Claims.

This invention relates to car couplers and more particularly to guidingmeans for use with car couplers such as will prevent jack-knifing of theadjacent couplers during the coupling operation.

My invention may be advantageously used with the type of coupler shownin Robinson Patent 3,984,171. issued April 18, 1933, which patent showsa car coupler particularly adapted for use on mine cars. It has beenfound that couplers of the general type shown in the Robinson patent maylie in such angled positions relative to each other that as two couplersmove towards each other in a coupling operation the contact between themcauses the couplers to jack-knife, that is, to increase their angledposition relative to the car. When the couplers are in this position itis impossible to properly couple them without first separating the carsand moving the couplers back to positions in which jackknifing will notoccur. These couplers will jackknife under certain conditions even whenthey are positioned within the gathering range of the couplers and itmay occur on either straight or curved track. i

Jack-knifing occurs for the reason that the first contact between thecouplers falls within the angle formed by the center line of a couplerand a line drawn between the points on the cars about which thecouplers'pivot. Continued movement of the couplers towards each other,instead of straightening them out so that they can complete the couplingoperation, will merely increase the angular relation of each couplerwith respect to its car, and cause them to reach positions in whichcoupling becomes impossible.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate jack-knifing by aconstructicn which provides for contact between mating couplers such aswill move thecouplers upon contact thereof, in a direction that willallow them to slide into coupled engagement.

My invention can be best understood from the following description anddrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of two couplers embodying the invention, each ofwhich is angled with respect to its own car, the cars being illustratedin the position they assume on straight track.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing adjacent cars angledwith respect to each other, representing curved track.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the coupler in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the coup shown in Fig. 3.

- the coupler.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing two of the couplers in coupled position.

Figure 6 is a viewshowing a modified form of the invention applied to apair of couplers which are shown in coupled position.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the couplers shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the couplers of Fig. I

6 angled with respect to their cars and in the act of being guided tocoupled position.

Figure 9 is anenlarged plan view of the modiform of coupler of Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the coupler shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a front view of the coupler shown in Fig. 9; and

Figure 12 is a plan view of a pair of couplers showing a slightlymodified form of the invention.-

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown a coupler having ahead 2 which comprises a buffing'jaw 3, and a pulling and guiding jaw 4connected by a bufiing face 5 arranged at'an angle to the longitudinalcenter line of The pulling jaw has a laterally extending recess 5 toreceivethe complementary jaw 3 of an opposing coupler head, and itspulling face I engages a complementary face 8 on the bufiing jaw of theopposing coupler head. The lock 9 may be similar to that shown in theaforesaid Robinson patent and is adapted to be moved rearwardly in thecoupler head to permit passage of jaw 3 of the opposing coupler during acoupling operation. The operating lever I 9 is adapted to retract thelock for uncoupling two couplers.

Fig. 1 shows two adjacent couplers pivotally mounted atpoints II and 12on adjacent cars ISand M, respectively. "The couplers are shown inangled position suchthat the point of contact between jaw 3 ofone'coupler with jaw 4 of the opposing coupler is to the side of a linedrawn through pivots H and 12, towards the longitudinal center lines Aof the couplers. In accordance with my invention an abutment I5 isformed on'each coupler rearwardly of jaw 3 and has a front surface l6extending substantially parallel to the front surface 11 of jaw 4 of thecoupler. A rib I8 may be provided to reinforce abutment l5. It will beobserved that contact between abutment l5 of the coupler on car it andthe jaw 4 of the coupler on car l4 occurs on the opposite side of lineX--X than the contact between jaws 3 and 4 of said couplers. If weassume in Fig. 1 that abutment l5 were not present, then continuedmovement of the cars towards each other will exert forces on thecouplers tending to cause the latter to form a greater angle with thecenter lines of their respective cars, and the point of contact betweenjaws 3 and 4 to move away from line XX. During this movement jaw 3 ofthe coupler on car l3 will usually slide to the position shown indot-dash lines in Fig. 1 and in this position the couplers will notstraighten and can not be properly interengaged. Angular movement of thecouplers may continue until they contact abutments I 9 on the carstructures. The addition of abutment I counteracts the aforesaidmovements for the reason that the point of contact between jaw 4 andabutment I5 is on the side of line X-X opposite to the point of contactbetween jaws 3 and 4, thus causing a force to be exerted, the directionof which is laterally away from the center lines of the couplers.Therefore, the contacting points of jaw 4 will slide along jaw 3 and theouter face of abutment l5, causing the couplers to straighten themselvesand move to the coupled position shown in Fig. 5.

The same action will take place in Fig. 2 wherein it is noted that thecouplers are substantially centered each with respect to its own car.Even so, it will be observed that the point of contact between jaw 3 ofone coupler and jaw 4 of the opposing coupler is on the side of a linejoining pivots I! and I2, such as will cause jack-knifing of thecouplers. The provision of abutment causes contact between the forwardface thereof and jaw 4 of the opposing coupler to be on the oppositeside of line XX and effectively prevents jack-knifing and results instraightening of the couplers, as previously described in connectionwith Fig. 1. In each of the cases shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the initialcontact between jaws 3 and 4 will lie in the angle between thelongitudinal center line of one of the couplers and a line joiningpivots H and I2. If it were not for abutment l5 the couplers would slideto the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1 and thus prevent thecouplers from straightening. However, instead of contacting as above, myinvention provides for contact on the opposite side of the line joiningpivots H and I2 from the center lines of the couplers, which causes aforce to be exerted in a direction that will straighten the couplers andallow them to couple. Furthermore, if the couplers were angled withrespect to the cars a greater distance than is shown in Figs. 1 or 2,the contact would first be between jaw 4 of one coupler and abutment IEon the opposing coupler, which would initially cause rotational movementbetween the couplers until jaws 3 and 4 contact each other after whichthe coupler would straighten in the manner previously described. It isnot essential that surfaces [6 and ll be parallel, as will be apparentfrom Fig. 12, which shows surfaces l6 and l! at an angle to each other.Guiding surface IE will function in the same manner as previouslydescribed in connection with surface l6.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, the guiding means forstraightening the couplers embodies certain changes in the buffing andpulling jaws thereof but the principle of the straightening action isthe same as in the form previously described. In this modified form ofthe invention the buffing jaw 25 is projected laterally and forwardly toform an abutment 26 of less vertical height than jaw 25. This abutmentis reinforced by rib 2'1. The pulling jaw on the opposite side of thecoupler is cut away at its midportion to form upper and lower jaws 28and 29, respectively, between which is received the abutment 26 of anopposing coupler. Upper jaw 28 is formed on its bottom with an upwardlyand outwardly sloping surface 30 and likewise lower jaw 29 is formedwith an upper surface 3| sloping forwardly and downwardly. Thesesurfaces assist in vertically gathering the mating couplers byengagement with the upper or lower surfaces of an opposing abutment 25on a mating coupler. Extending laterally and rearwardly from the rearend of the slot formed by jaws 2B and 29 is an abutment 32 which has afront surface 33 substantially parallel to surface 34 of abutment 2E.Abutment 32 may be reinforced by a rib 49. As can be readily seen fromFigs. 6 and '7, when two couplers are coupled, abutment 26 lies betweenjaws 28 and 23 of the opposing coupler and adjacent the abutment 32thereof.

In Fig. 8 a pair of couplers are shown in the act of coupling andpivoted on cars 36 and 31 at points 38 and 39, respectively. It will beobserved that the contact between abutment 26 of the coupler on car 36and abutment 32 of the coupler on car 31 is on the side of line Y-Yjoining pivots 38 and 39 as will cause the couplers to rotate and slideon each other in a direction that will straighten them out and thus bein a position to couple in the same manner as in the embodiment shown inFigs. 1 to 5. Although Fig. 8 shows the adjacent cars on straight track,the same action will take place if on curved track, similar to Fig. 2.

It will be observed that relative vertical movement between the couplersis limited by contact between abutment 26 and surfaces 33 and 3| of theopposing coupler. If desired, this movement can be substantiallyentirely eliminated by making the height of abutment 26 substantiallythe same as the vertical distance between the inner ends of surfaces 30and 3|.

In both of the embodiments shown the couplers are constructed totransmit buffing blows therebetween along the longitudinal axis of thecoupler and clearance is therefore provided between surfaces 16 and H inthe coupler shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and 33 and 34 in the coupler shown inFigs. 6 to 11 to relieve the guide wings from bufiing stresses. However,if desired, the guide wings may be constructed to receive buffing blows,in which case the aforesaid clearance would be eliminated.

Although I have shown and described my invention in connection withcouplers particularly adapted for use with mine cars its application isnot so limited and it may be advantageously used wherever difficulty isexperienced with jack-knifing as herein described.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a pair of pivotally mounted car couplers each havinga plurality of transversely spaced fixed jaws adapted to interengagewhen said couplers are coupled together, guiding surfaces on said jawsfor normally guiding said couplers into coupled engagement and guidingmeans extending diagonally rearw-ardly of one of said jaws having asurface thereon at an angle to the guiding surfaces on said jaw adapted,

when said couplers are horizontally angled relative to each other, toengage the opposite jaw of said other coupler on the side of a linedrawn through the pivots of said couplers opposite to the longitudinalcenter lines of said couplers.

2. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a transversely disposedbuffing face and fixed jaws at each end thereof having surfaces thereonin pulling engagement with complementary jaws of an opposing coupler,said jaws normally being adapted to guide said couplers intointerlocking engagement, and means extending rearwardly and outwardly ofone of said jaws adapted to contact the opposite jaw of an opposingcoupler on the side of a line drawn through the pivots of said couplersopposite to the longitudinal center lines thereof to guide said couplersinto engagement when said coupler is angled relative to an opposingcoupler to such an extent that the initial contact of said jaws would beineffective to prevent jack-knifing.

3. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a transversely disposedbufiing face and fixedjaws at each end thereof having surfaces thereonin pulling engagement with complementary jaws of an opposing coupler,said jaws normally being adapted to guide said couplers intointerlocking engagement, and means extending rearwardly and outwardly ofone of said jaws adapted to contact the opposite jaw of an opposingcoupler on the side of a line drawn through the pivots of said couplersopposite to the longitudinal center lines thereof to guide said couplersinto engagement when said coupler is angled relative to an opposingcoupler to such an extent that the initial contact of said jaws would beineffective to prevent jack-knifing, said means being normally spacedfrom said opposite jaw of an opposing coupler when said couplers are incoupled engagement.

4. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a fixed jaw on either side ofits center line for pulling and buffing engagement with thecomplementary jaw of an opposing coupler, said fixed jaws being normallyadapted to align said couplers laterally and to align said couplersangularly to a limited extent, an auxiliary guiding wing extendinglaterally and rearwardly from one of said fixed jaws and adapted tocontact one of said fixed jaws on an opposing coupler head on the sideof a line drawn through the pivots of said couplers opposite to thecenter lines thereof to bring said couplers sufliciently into alignmentso that the said fixed jaws are efiective to complete the alignment,said auxiliary guiding wing being so located with respect to said fixedjaws that it is maintained out of contact with said opposing couplerwhen the couplers are intercoupled.

5. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a pair of transversely spacedfixed jaws adapted to intercouple with similar jaws on an opposingpivoted coupler, one of said first-named jaws being bifurcated andadapted to receive an extension on the opposite jaw of said opposingcoupler, and guiding means extending diagonally rearwardly of saidcoupler from the inner end of said bifurcated portion, said guidingmeans being adapted to engage said extension on the side of a line drawnthrough the pivots of said couplers opposite to the longitudinal centerlines thereof for aligning said couplers during the coupling operation.

6. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a later-ally extending buffingface and fixed jaws at each end thereof having pulling engagement withcomplementary jaws on an opposing pivoted coupler, one of said jawsbeing bifurcated and the other of said jaws having an extension adaptedto enter the bifurcated jaw of an opposing coupler, and guiding meansextending diagonally rearwardly of said bifurcated jaw, said meanshaving a forward face substantially parallel to said buffing faceadapted to engage said extension of an opposing coupler on the side of aline drawn through the pivots of said couplers opposite to thelongitudinal center lines thereof for aligning the couplers during thecoupling operation.

7. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a laterally extending buffingface and fixed jaws at each end thereof having pulling engagement withcomplementary jaws on an opposing pivoted coupler, one of said jawsbeing bifurcated and the other of said jaws having an extension adaptedto enter the bifurcated jaw of an opposing coupler, and guiding meansextending diagonally rearwardly of said bifurcated jaw, said meanshaving a forward face to the rear of and substantially parallel to saidbufling face adapted to engage said extension of an opposing coupler onthe side of a line drawn through the pivots of said couplers opposite tothe longitudinal center lines thereof for aligning the conplers duringthe coupling operation.

8. A pivotally mounted car coupler having a pair of fixed jaws adaptedto intercouple with complementary jaws on an opposing pivoted coupler,one of said jaws comprising upper and lower spaced portions having innerwalls converging towards the rear of said coupler, guiding meanscomprising a member extending diagonally rearwardly from the inner endsof said walls, and said other jaw having a portion extending diagonallyforwardly thereof and adapted to enter the space between the upper andlower portions of the opposite jaw of an opposing coupler and adapted toengage said member on the side of a line drawn through the pivots ofsaid couplers opposite to the longitudinal center lines thereof foraligning the couplers during the coupling operation.

RUSSELL J. WITTMER.

